Disclaimer: I do not own FMA
Claimer: Felicia, Noelle, and Jacob are mine
Chapter Two: News From Central
"Welcome back, Fullmetal." Colonel Mustang greeted peering at the Elric brother's over the rim of his coffee mug.
"This had better be important, Colonel." Edward growled as he slumped into one of the office's oversized chairs.
"Brother, be reasonable." Alphonse pleaded as he pulled up a chair beside his elder sibling.
"How can I be reasonable when this shit head probably called us out here for another unrelated mission." Edward hissed as his blood had begun to boil.
"I can hear everything you're saying you little runt." Mustang seethed glaring at the flaring blonde.
"You two are behaving like children." sighed Alphonse as a sweat drop begun to form just above his brow.
"Colonel." a firm female voice pressed as she entered the room. "Don't exert yourself dealing with trivial manners. Please press foreword with meeting so that you can attended to more important issues at hand."
"You should listen to her." replied Edward relaxing back in his chair from a previously more rigid state. "The lieutenant doesn't wish to waste precious time unlike someone else I know."
"Very well then." Mustang sighed placing down his mug on the desk.
"There's a coaster to your left, colonel." sighed Lieutenant Hawkeye setting the mug down in a more suitable place as she rolled her amber orbs.
"Sorry." Mustang grumbled before turning back to the Elric brothers. "The reason I've called the two of you two my office, is because I have some vital information for the two of you."
"Vital, hu?" Ed shrugged before scowling. "As in vital to you or to Al and I."
"I mean vital as of this information is of major importance to both parties." Mustang replied pushing a photograph across the desk.
"Where was this photograph taken, Colonel?" Al asked studying the scene of what looked to be a crowded train station.
"It was taken in the city of Alcestis in Chapala. Are you and your brother familiar with this area?" questioned Mustang taking another sip of his coffee.
"Personally, no. But we've heard stories about this place. Isn't that right, brother?" Al commented passing the picture to the elder Elric.
"Yeah…" Ed murmured as his mother's face flashed into his mind; it had been four years since he had become a state alchemist.
"Well, I need the two of you to go to Alcestis. There's been a rumor that someone is leaking information about the Philosopher's Stone, and we need the two of you two find out what they know." the colonel replied looking to the lieutenant. "Lieutenant Hawkeye, please have Major Armstrong escort these two to the station as soon as their bags are packed."
"Yes, sir!" Hawkeye responded giving a small salute to her commanding officer.
"Come on, Colonel!" Ed moaned sinking into his chair. "Do Al and I honestly need a babysitter?"
"I know you're anxious to be on your own Fullmetal, but there are some pretty vile creatures out there who would love to get their hands on you." warned the Colonel as he rose from his seat to stretch.
"Meaning the homunculi?" inferred Ed raising an already cocked eyebrow.
"Exactly." whispered Mustang at he shot the eldest Elric a wary glance.
"But why the major out of all your men?" whined the blonde as he motion for Al to follow him to the door.
"Everyone else is busy with odd jobs." shrugged the colonel as the lieutenant placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What about you lieutenant?" Ed wondered secretly hoping that she could replace the cupcake who dared to imitate a strongman.
"I have to babysit the Colonel." Hawkeye breathed sweat dropping slightly.
"Hey!" Mustang grunted folding his arms across his chest.
"Later, Colonel, Lieutenant." Ed waved exiting the office.
"Thank you for the information." Al bowed before following after Edward.
Walking out into the hall, the two brothers were soon greeted by a towering figure with bulging muscles. Stars in his eyes, Major Armstrong pulled the teenagers into a tight embrace leaving them gasping for air. Starting to turn blue Ed finally managing to break-free of the Major's death grip of passion, slid to the wood floor beneath their feet. Al in the meanwhile, was still struggling to free his armor from the bone crushing, spin tingling, body numbing embrace.
"Brother, help me! I'm being crushed!" Al cried looking to his sibling helplessly.
"Major, let Al go!" Edward hisses pulling at the mounds of muscles in the strongman's arm. "You're denting his armor."
"My apologies, Master Elric." the Major replied releasing the armored clad teen. "I couldn't possibly hope to restrain myself seeing as the two of you are leaving central yet again to embark on what hopefully isn't too dangerous of a mission."
"What are you talking about, Major?" Edward sighed shaking his head. "All of are missions are too dangerous. We're both still minors after all."
"I believe that is why the Colonel wishes for me to escort you until at least the train station." smiled Major Armstrong holding out two suitcases.
"What are these?" Alphonse questions taking one of the suitcases.
"These are all of your belongings from your hotel room in Central." Armstrong nodded as Ed took hold of his. "If I'm not mistaken, I believe that everything the two of you had requested is the contents of the luggage you are carrying right now."
"What about our tickets?" Ed wondered holding out his hand to the Major. "I don't ever recall the Colonel giving us any."
"Ah! Here they are!" Armstrong grinned flashing two tickets to the boys.
"I guess this means we're set then. Al." Ed replied looking to the silver suited alchemist.
"Guess so." Al agreed bobbing his head up and down.
Alright, next stop Alcestis!
Okay so that's it for chapter two. The next chapter we finally get to meet some of the OCs. A few more reviews would be great too ^_^ Thanks!!